Apparatus for conditioning adhesive-coated fabric.



J. MEADE.

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING ADHESIVE COATED FABRIC. APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, 1909.

1 ,O35,218. Patented Au 13,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 11 Wig g6 J. MEADE.

APPARATUS FOR GONDITIGNING ADHESIVE COATED-FABRIC.

APPLIQ TIQN FILED JULYQ, 1909.

Patented Aug. 13,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

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JAMES MEADE, or srronon'ron," MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING ADHESIVE-COATED FABRIC.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed July 3, 1909. Serial No. 505,845.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known' that I, JAMES MEADE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stoughton, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Conditioning Adhesive-Coated Fabricg of which the following description,

' in connection with the accompanying draw ing, is a specification,like characters on th drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus or machine for placing adhesive coated fabric in suitable condition forapplication to leather or other material such as used in the manufacture of inner soles for shoes. The apparatus is particularly designed for treating that class of adhesive coated fabricsin which the coating has its tacky or sticky qualities due to the presence of gutta percha or other vegetable gums, or equivalent materials used in the rubber coating trade for producing an adhesive coating. In this class of adhesive coated fabrics the coating is nor mally dry and non-adhesive so that the'fabric can be rolled up without sticking togetherv and can be handled without difficulty. The

foundation fabric upon which the coating is applied varies in weight and weave acct rding 5 to the purpose for which the coated fabric I the manufacture of such inner soles by the use of previously prepared adhesive coatedfabric, such'as referred to, it has-been com .mon to place the coated fabric in condition for application to the base of the inner sole by wetting or moistening the fabric itself and by heating the coating; the wetting or moistening of the fabric being primarily for the purpose of, rendering the fabric pliable "or flexible so tlrat it would'mor'e readllv conform to any irregularity in the surface "to which it was applied, such as th'epro jecting iibof the inner sole, and the heating of thecoati'ng being primarily for the purpose. of rendering it tacky,oi -s t-icky. This wetting or moistening of the fabric has been secured usually by passing the entire coated fabrlothrcugh a bath of hot water or hve steam, while the heating of the coating has been performed by the subsequent application of dry heat.

The present invention provides for the A conditioning of the adhesive coated fabric without wetting or moistening the fabric or subjecting the strip of material to more than one operation. It has been found that the adhesive coated fabric can be rendered sufliciently pliable Withoutthe fabric itself being wet or moistened, provided that the substance of the coating is in a thoroughly soft and. flexible condition. The presence of the coating on the fabric is what renders the 'material as a whole stiff and heavy, as is shown by the fact that in the old methods of making the Sleeper and Gem inner soles when these adhesive coatings were not employed no trouble was experienced in re I gard to the pliability of the fabric.

' In the apparatus of the presentinvention the coating only is treated to render it soft throughout, thus giving the entire material F great flexibility, and to render it tacky or sticky, thus presenting the material in condition to stick readilyto the base of their-iner sole. This conditioning of the fabric is secured by passing it through what is herein termed a conditioning chamber with its back or uncoated surface in close contact with a traveling support or belt, and with its face or coated sid in the presence of steam.

thi invention "the coated fabric emerges with Wige'n thus conditioned by the machine of it fabric portion in a dry condition and with its coated surface tacky or sticky and with its entire body so flexible and'pliable that it may-readily be bent into any desired shape to conform to the desired irregular surface. v

The elimination of the wetting or moistening of the fabric itself is an important matter because such m'oistening is often injurious not only to the fabricit-self but also to the article to which it is applied. In the manufacture,ofinner soles the monster-ring: 6

often produces mil-dew spots upon the inner.

sole and frequently rots andstain's either on'botht-he leather and the fabric; again, it is often difficult properly to dry the inner. soles after they are assembled, thus increasing the tendency to the rotting or injury of q the parts; again, when the inner soles are properly dried so much time and space is required as to be very objectionable; again, the application of moisture to the fabric itself serves to remove therefrom the major or substantial portion of the sizing usually contained in such fabrics and which gives body 7 to the fabric; again, the inner soles cannot. be made up or welted into the shoe until they are thoroughly dry except. by con siderable difficulty. The elimination of the moistening of the fabric, therefore, secures a number of advantages and also enables the use of a less heavy and consequently, less expensive fabric While preserving the necessary degree of stiffness or body l The apparatus of the present invention not only eliminates the wetting or moistening of the fabric itself, while'at the sametime conditioning the coated surface so that it is rendered tacky or sticky and the fabric as x a whole pliable and fiexible but it secures the conditioning of the fabric in such a way that it may be handled without difficulty but will stick with great tenacity when pressed into contact *with the leather surface of the base of the inner sole. The action of the steam alone upon the coated surface is found to condition the coating in precisely the required degree. The fabric as itemerges from the machine is not harsh and heavy as vwhenv wetted but is light and flexible, and

the coating being tempered by the moisture of the steam can easily be handled. No drying of the fabric is required and it, is ready for use in the manufacture of the inner soles and of the shoes immediately. When the fabric thus conditioned is applied to the face of-the inner sole it rests across the top of the ribs and does not flop down onto the feather edge nor contact therewith until it is fitted into place, nor does it stick so firmly to the rib as to pull it down out of place until it is-fitted thereto difficulties which have been found to occur previous ly. The fabric thus conditioned and applied to the inner sole allows the inner sole to slide readily through the so-called gemming machine which presses the fabric into close contact with the irregular surface of the inner sole. Immediately after the inner sole has been gemmed and finished it is ready to pass to the subsequent operations of the making of the shoe without further drying or attention.

The machine is not only economical in its construction but is also economical in its maintenance, chiefly because it only requires steam, or steam for its operation exhaust it is found under very low pressure since that such steam is suffioient to condition properly the coating.

In machines hitherto employed for treating adhesive coated fabric steam under high pressure has been employed in the machines at considerable exstrip of coated fabric,

pense. This live steam, or steam under high pressure has been required not only to maintain the ten'iperature of the water to provide the bath through which the fabric was passed to wet or moisten the fabric, but also to heat a drum or steam chest and thus provide an intense dry heat for softening the coating. The present machine simply applies exhaust steam, or steam under low pressure directly to the surface of the coating alone and is found to secure thedesired result.

Besides the essential features of this invent-ion already referred to it comprises certain subordinate features such as the means for maintaining the fabric in contact with the belt or traveling support, the means for taking up the slack in the endless belt or support, and the general arrangement of the parts of the machine, all of which will be more fully described in the. accompanying specification and particularly pointed out in the-claims.

The drawings show the preferred form of ap ara'tusembodying this invention and designed for the conditioning of a narrow strip of adhesive coated fabric such as is used in the manufacture of inner soles for shoes.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of the entire apparatus. Fig. 2 is a top plan vieW. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the main portion of theapparatus partially in vertical cross section.

The body of the machine is preferably of a flat, box-like form and may be constructed of any suitable material but is preferably formed of cast-iron. It is of sufficient width to allow the passage therethrough of the enable the fabric to be properly conditioned and of sufiicient depth to allow of the interposition of the steam-spraying device beneath the line of passage of the fabric. This box is indicated at A and is supported in a slightly inclined position to drain off the moisture from the steam by suitable standards or uprights B. The box is slotted at A ateach end and provided at one side with a door A by which access may be had to its interior. A pair of bearing armsC at one end and another pair of bearing arms C at the opposite end are formed upon or attached to body A and serve as supports for flanged rolls-D D journaled therein and arranged with the lowest points of their peripheries in line with the slots A.

Oneof each pair erably removable and bolted in place as indicated in Fig. 1 to cover the front side or end of the slots A to enable the belt E to be in positionz The belt E is of endless construction and formed of any suitable material capableof presenting a smooth surface and withstand of sufficient length toof bearing arms is prefof iindless form is used.

.1 upper run extends ing the action of the steam, and preventing I the access of heat and moisture to the un- ;.c'oat "ed side -of the fabric.

C -viyrbelt made of rubber and canvas and The belt passes around the rollers D the slots- A the lower run of the belt thus extending through the conditioning chamber A or interior of the body A, while the outside of the body through the atmosphere. Provision is made for taking up slack in-the belt by having. the journal of one of the rolls as D mounted to moveldngitudinally in the bearing arms, and an adjpu-sting device is provided for securing this movement. Such an adjusting device is herein shown as a yoke D sliding in-the bearing arms and abutting against the ends ofthe journal of the roll D and a screw D screwed into a web A projecting upwardly from the forward end of the body A, which screw abuts against yokem and is provided with a milledhead D by which it canbe readily turned. The interior of the body or the conditioning chamber Atis provided with a steam spray device herein shown as a flat, rectangular boX'F placed beneath the lower run of the belt E perforated throughout its upper surface todirect the steam in the direction of the beltand connected with a steam sup ply pipe 15 which is preferably an exhaust pipe. The strip of coated fabric illustrated at G in 'Fig. l is held in place against the lower run of .the belt with its'uncoated surface in close contact with the belt by suit able means which will allow of it traveling along with the belt Such means are shown as a plurality'of friction rolls G located on the bearing arm C and a roughened or "spiked ratchet roller mounted on the end of the work-table above the opposite end of the apparatus, but any suitable device may be employed for this purpose. The work-table is shown at H and the arrangement is such-"that the entire apparatus may be placed beneath the work-table, thus occupying the minimum amount of room and requiring, in fact, no additional room from that required by the work-table' The ratchet rollis shown at H journaled in brackets H bolted to the table H. The surface of the roll is provided with" the roughnesses or spikes Hfiand a ratchet H on the roll cooperates with a spring-pressed pawl H on the brackets H so that the roll can only move in the direction of the ar row.

The roll of fabric J is supported in any suitable manner as upon. brackets J depending from the rearward end of the ap-v paratus.

Inlthrea ding up the apparatus the end of' thestr'ip of fabric from the roll J is first carried back and forth between the fric- Preferably a i and D and through' tion rolls G and then attached to the lower run of the belt E, a button E -being=provided upon the belt which may be put in a slot cut in the strip of fabric. The forwardroll D has its shaft provided with a squared end D adapted to receive a removable handle D Upon the turning of the handle D therefore,the strip of fabric will be drawn through the conditioning chamber. The end of the fabric is then passed around the roll H and laid upon the table H.

In the operation of the machine the end ,of the fabric is pulled until tension between roll H and friction rolls Gr holds the back of the fabric snugly up against the surface of the belt E. Steam is then admitted through the pipe F into the spraying box F whence it issues against the coated surface of the strip of fabric in the conditioning chamber. The action of the hot steam, which need not be under pressure but may simply be anexhaust, is to place the coated fabric in just the proper condition by rendering the coating sticky or tacky-and thoroughly softened throughout. As the fabric is needed it is pulled by hand along the table H and cut ofi in desired lengths and applied to the inner sole. As it is pulled along the ratchet roll H is rotated maintaining the fabric snugly up againstthe belt thus keeping the fabric portion dryand the reverse rotation of the roll H is prevented by the pawl.

Any moisture which may adhere to the surface of the strip of fabric at the entrance to or exit from the conditioning chamber will becondensed and to prevent its dropping upon the floor trays or pans K K are provided. Drainage ports A",

.K, K are provided respectively for the con- 5 ditioning chamber and the two drip pans K and K to which suitable pipes may be attached if desired; Having fully described my invention, what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i

1. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising,- a conditioning chamber provided with openings for the passage of a strip' of coated fabric therethrough, and means for protecting the unco-ated side of the fabric throughout during its passage through the conditioning cham-= ber whereby the adhesive. coating .is thoroughly conditioned without wetting the fab I10. r I

2. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising, a conditioning chamber provided with openings for the passage of a strip of coated fabric therethrough, means for protecting the uncoated side of the fabric throughout during its passage through the conditioning chamber, and means for admitting steam-to said conditioning chamber whereby "the adhesive 13a coating is thoroughly conditioned without wetting the fabric.

3. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising, a conditioning chamber, a traveling support presenting an unbrokensurface extending through said chamber, means for maintaining that portion of the coated fabric within the chamber in contact throughout its uncoated side with the-traveling support during its passage through the chamber, and means for admitting steam to said conditioning chamber whereby the adhesive coating is thoroughly conditioned without ,wetting the fabric.

4. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising, a conditioning chamber, a traveling support presenting an unbroken surface extending through said chamber, means for maintaining that portion of the coated fabric within the chamber in contact throughout its uncoated side with the traveling support during its passage through the chamber', and a steam spraying device located insaid conditioning chamber beneath said traveling support.

5. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising, a conditioning chamber provided with oppositely disposed openings, a flexible endless belt presenting an unbroken surface and supported adjacent said chamber with its lower run extending through the conditioning chamber and the openings thereof, means for maintaining that portion of the coated fabric within the chamber in contact throughout its uncoated side with the lower run of the belt, and means for admitting steam to said conditioning chamber.

6. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising, a substantially horizontally elongated conditioning chamher, a steam spraying box located therein, an endless flexible belt presenting an unbroken surface, guiding devices to maintain and direct the lower run of the belt through the chamber above the steam spray boX, and means for maintaining that portion of the coated fabric within the chamber in contact throughout its uncoated side with the lower run of the belt.

7. A machine for conditioning vadhesive coated fabric comprising, a body portion presenting a conditioning chamber therein and provided with oppositely disposed openings, projectlng bearing arms at the opposite ends of said body portion,

rolls mounted in said bearing arms, an endless flexible belt presenting an unbroken surface and mounted on said rolls and having its lower run extending through the conditioning chamber and the openings thereof, and

means for admitting steam to said conditioning chamber.

"8. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising, a body portion presenting a conditioning chamber therein and provided with oppositely disposed openings, projecting bearing arms at the opposite ends of said body portion, rolls mounted in said bearing arms, an endless flexible belt presenting an unbroken surface and riounted on-said rolls and having its lower run, extending through the conditioning chamber and the openings thereof, drainage pans located beneath the projecting portions of the belt extending beyond the openings in the body portion, and means for admitting steam to said conditioning chamber.

9. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising, a body portion provided with a conditioning chamber having oppositely disposed openings therein, rollsmounted at opposite ends of the said body portion, a table above said body portion, a roughened ratchet roll mounted at the end of the table above the forward end of the body portion and a friction device for the fabric at the rearward end of the body portion whereby the said friction device and ratchet roll act to maintain the fabric with its uncoated side against the surface of the lower run of the belt.

10. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising, a, body portion,

means for guiding the fabric through said body portion, means for rendering the coating tacky and pliable during such passage, a table above said body portion. a roughened ratchet roll .mounted at the end of the table above the forward end of the body portion, over which the fabric passes onto the table and by which the,fabric is prevented from slipping backward.

11. A machine for conditioning adhesive coated fabric comprising, a body portion presenting a conditioning chamber provided with oppositely disposed openings, a flexible endless belt presenting an unbroken surface and supported adjacent said chamber-with its lower run extending through the conditioning chamber and the openings thereof, means for taking up slack in the said belt, and means for maintaining the coated fabric with its uncoated side in contact with the lower run of the belt in its passage through the chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES MEADE. Witnesses:

LEONA CHANDLER, THOMAS J .DRUMMOND. 

